Alternative Plasma Thawers for Austere Resuscitative Surgical Teams: Literature Review

The authors recommend that ARSC teams use whole blood, liquid plasma, and FDA-approved thawing devices whenever available. However, if these options are not feasible, alternative methods should be considered to meet mission requirements. Among the devices reviewed, the sous vide demonstrated potential for this application. They are lightweight, compact, versatile, and capable of creating target temperature-controlled circulating water baths, making them superior when compared to other identified field-adapted devices. Dry-based thawing systems, such as the ZipThaw®, may also offer advantages by conserving resources like water and electricity; however, further research is needed to validate its effectiveness in forward operating environments.